There are so many different opinions out there, about what a drama class is. Often is is waved off as nothing more than playing games. Silly really, when so much research in areas such as child development, education and business, all show how important games are to developing in and understanding the world around us. For example, in a previous working life, I spent time working in the field of organizational culture and leadership. One element that was always added to any workshop we ran with groups that ranged from the highest management to the coalface, was a game. Games, you see, were where peoples real nature was exposed. How well did they really work as a team member? How important was winning to them? Would they always stick to the rules or bend, even break them to achieve a win? No matter how savvy the participants were to a workshop situation, their true nature always emerged in a competitive game.
Games are also a fun tool for developing skills. I mean, who likes to be talked at. How many of us really develop a skill by sitting and talking, or listening to someone else talk? Based on the lifeless faces of students when I wandered into the realm of casual teaching and was tasked with talking from a pre-written, well worn, lecture, not many I would wager.
Within every game I teach at XtrAct Drama Academy there is built a transferable skill. Indeed, I once met a university lecturer who told me, "You give me a subject, any subject, and I will show you how to use drama to teach it." And I believe her. When I look at the many different experiences I have had working across a number of industries or travelling through non-english speaking nations or even in my every day interactions. Each skill I needed is a skill that gets covered within my drama classes. Problem solving, Effective Team Work, Effective and Engaging communication, Literacy, Focus, Observation, Confidence... The list goes on. And if you go on to work in theatre and perchance even pursue tertiary training in theatre you need to include skills in Mathmatics, IT, Science, Lighting, Sound Production, Administration... the list goes on.
We may not explicitly describe to students the skills they are developing each time they play in our classes, but trust me, Drama is more than a game.
Games are also a fun tool for developing skills. I mean, who likes to be talked at. How many of us really develop a skill by sitting and talking, or listening to someone else talk? Based on the lifeless faces of students when I wandered into the realm of casual teaching and was tasked with talking from a pre-written, well worn, lecture, not many I would wager.
Within every game I teach at XtrAct Drama Academy there is built a transferable skill. Indeed, I once met a university lecturer who told me, "You give me a subject, any subject, and I will show you how to use drama to teach it." And I believe her. When I look at the many different experiences I have had working across a number of industries or travelling through non-english speaking nations or even in my every day interactions. Each skill I needed is a skill that gets covered within my drama classes. Problem solving, Effective Team Work, Effective and Engaging communication, Literacy, Focus, Observation, Confidence... The list goes on. And if you go on to work in theatre and perchance even pursue tertiary training in theatre you need to include skills in Mathmatics, IT, Science, Lighting, Sound Production, Administration... the list goes on.
We may not explicitly describe to students the skills they are developing each time they play in our classes, but trust me, Drama is more than a game.
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